The Dispossessed (a poem and commentary about today's society)

More Ursula Le Guin Inspiration

This is the fourth hub I have written this year inspired by the titles of books written by Ursula Le Guin. My previous hubs are I'm Always Coming Home, The City of Illusion, and The Beginning Time. I am not sure how many of her book titles I will use to create hubs from but there is at least 29 more to choose from.

Those who have read my poem The City of Illusion will notice the continuation of that theme in this one. Poverty and homelessness are issues I am concerned about and it seems to be a direction some of my recent writing has been taking.

21st Century Society

Our 21st Century society is filled with both opportunities and challenges. Great advancements in engineering, communications technology, science and medicine have paved the way for improved infrastructure, lifestyle, health, employment etc.

But despite increased possibilities for resourceful and innovative people to become wealthy and successful there are also those unfortunate human beings who fall through the cracks. Sometimes their predicament may be from making poor decisions, or simply being born into a life of poverty. It may also be through no fault of their own such as retrenchment, illness, or disability. Whatever the reason, there will always be this group of people I choose to call.. The Dispossessed.

Australia My Country

In my own country, Australia, we have approximately 90% of the population situated along, or close to, the coastline. Australia is one of the world's most urbanised countries

As of 15 January 2016 the population of Australia is estimated to be 23,969,900. Relatively speaking this may sound like a small population for such a large country with fewer than three persons per square kilometre of total land area, however Australia is the worlds driest continent and much of our land mass is desert. Australia is only the 52nd most populous country in the world but our population is expected to exceed 28 million by 2030.

A recent rapid population growth is largely due to the influx of immigrants from mainly Asia and the Middle East. This has resulted in major city populations (especially along the east coast) to increase at unsustainable levels. As our urban services, infrastructure and water supplies were not planned with such a large population increase in mind this is greatly adding to the problem of dispossession.

Source

Australia's population density increase from 2001-2011 | Source

Meanwhile our rural and outback country towns across Australia have been gradually dying and losing much needed services such as doctors, hospitals, schools and banks due to decreasing jobs in agriculture and the farming sector and support services.

There is an urgent need to look at redistributing the population towards the rural and regional areas to ensure these necessary services and amenities are retained and the towns reinvigorated. This, in turn, will help to take the pressure off the larger cities and aid in reducing the poverty crisis. The government needs to decentralise industries and move a significant number to the rural and remote areas to boost employment opportunities and inject new life-blood into those communities.

With the increasing population, as well as the end of the mining boom and reduction of coal reliance around the world, more emphasis needs to be placed on returning agriculture and food production as this country's major resource. This will also create more jobs in country areas.

Future immigrants should only be accepted if they are willing to settle in rural and outback Australia, and the homeless and long-term unemployed should also be encouraged and given incentives to relocate. Housing, for instance, is much more affordable in the country. There is no reason that new towns or even cities cannot be built even in remote desert areas. Take Las Vegas, Nevada as an example.

Comments

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sending

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Yes Lawrence. Australians are not happy with the Chinese buying so much land. It could be good for the countries if our Governments demand that say 80% of the entire workforce come from Australians and New Zealanders.

Lawrence Hebb

2 years agofrom Hamilton, New Zealand

John

I saw something about this a while ago. Basically China is actively trying to buy up as much land as she can in Aussie and New Zealand to provide food for their population, but before you think it's going to be jobs for folks they want to own the whole network and staff it totally with Chinese brought in specially to work the farms and transportation hubs they'll need with not even the taxes benefitting the two countries as the workers will be paid through Chinese banks!

I'll be sharing it

Lawrence

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Thank you Lawrence. I got up on my soapbox for this one. It is a message I feel strongly about and I am sure NZ is in a similar situation to Australia (except for your land mass). Agriculture needs a resurgence ...so many farmers are being forced off the land that has been in their families for generations. I would greatly appreciate if you would share this. Blessings.

Lawrence Hebb

2 years agofrom Hamilton, New Zealand

John

Sorry its taken me a while to get to this hub, it's actually a pretty important one and a few issues raised here that our world needs to address!

The situation is the same here in NZ but our main industry has always been agriculture and that has taken one hell of a beating these last few years!

Global prices for agriculture are well below what's economically viable, and this is because if who supports whom in the war in the Middle East!!

Russia supported the Assad regime so the West objected and Global prices for Dairy (NZs biggest export earner) nosedived to the point farmers are struggling.

Add that to Auckland becoming the fifth most unaffordable place on earth to buy a house (prices are about forty to fifty years wages for the average family) yet the top 1% are making huge sums while the rest struggle.

Great hub

Lawrence

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

It's never too late Genna.. I think our governments, local authorities and big business have to totally change their way of thinking..stop wastage ..building things and then when they are no longer useful just let them go to ruin...or sit vacant. They need to see that solutions to homelessness etc is right under their noses. Glad you liked this hub.

Genna East

2 years agofrom Massachusetts, USA

I'm sorry that I missed this one, John. Your poetry raises some valid and painful arguments that are inescapable. I so often drive by deserted buildings, neighborhoods, and more. It looks as though land and real estate developers, investors, speculators, etc., have become locusts. They develop, use it up then move on, leaving the dispossessed behind.

"No longer feeling worthless,

They'll work hard to succeed.

New industries will rise again

Away from city greed."

I so agree! I think we lost something...a disassociation from our life support systems with the industrial revolution; thus began the migration to cities and towns, and so forth. Greed and indifference took care of the rest.

I enjoyed this thoughtful hub very much.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Thanks for that link..interesting. I'll keep it in mine for my seven year hub.

Hi goego, the next one could very well be about number 7. Thanks for reading this.

goego

2 years agofrom Loserland

Two four six hubs(246) 6'33' followers, is the next one going to be about 7?

mckbirdbks

2 years agofrom Emerald Wells, Just off the crossroads,Texas

Stone soup - great concept.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Thanks Mike. It's never too late. Hope you found water :) I think things will get to a stage that everyone will have to revert to once again living like our grandparents, off the land, recycling, being frugal. Have you heard of "stone soup." You tell invite all your friends or neighbors around to share a pot of delicious soup that you make with just boiling water and a stone. You ask them each to bring just one vegetable to share. When everyone arrives with their carrot, potato, turnip, onion etc you throw it into the pot with your stone and boiling water..in a couple of hours you serve up the amazing "stone soup."

mckbirdbks

2 years agofrom Emerald Wells, Just off the crossroads,Texas

Hi John, sorry I am late. I was out looking for water in the desert. Civilization faces so many problems and the leaders take all their time looking for more money to line their pockets with.

Lots of meaningful thought went into this Hub. You are well situated to weather the storms of the dispossessed.

I have been saying for years that we will all live like our grandparents lived. Meaning nothing fancy but enough soup.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Thanks for reading and commenting Eldon. Good points. I just read that there are also five vacant homes for every one homeless person in the USA. More evidence of where society is doing things wrong. Governments need to open their eyes and do something.

Eldon Arsenaux

2 years agofrom Cooley, Texas

'Yet' should have been 'moreover'. Excuse my failure to edit in haste.

Eldon Arsenaux

2 years agofrom Cooley, Texas

I think your agrarian solution is admirable, but, at least in The United States, a foregone dream. Farmers do not wield the powers they once held as producers, yet the lands they cultivated (as owned privately for the public interest) are shrinking in availability. Perhaps 'the dispossessed' are also displaced. Great poem Jodah. Glad to see someone paying attention to the plea of the impoverished.

-E.G.A.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Thanks Larry. We have to consider doing things differently.

Larry Rankin

2 years agofrom Oklahoma

Interesting perspective.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

That is a wonderful compliment Surabhi. I don't write about politics or religion here at HubPages like many others because that just causes I'll will and arguments, and subsequently serves no good purpose. But I will continue to draw attention to social injustice and humanitarian affairs. I really am not seeking any awards or praise though, I just want as many people to read my message as possible and hopefully make the world a better place for all. I will accept your pat on the back however :) glad you like my drawing/tee shirt design.

I love you too.

Surabhi Kaura

2 years ago

This is the current state, yes. Jodah, you are the only one on HubPages, who truly feels the need to touch on current economic and humanitarian affairs. How I appreciate your approach! I would give a pat on your back – BRAVO! Such poems should be given an international award. Cool drawing at the end by the way. Love you.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Thank you Dave, I just had to express some ideas and feelings going through my mind at the present time. Glad you found the info about Australia interesting.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Thank you Dave, I just had to express some ideas and feelings going through my mind at the present time. Glad you found the info about Australia interesting.

David Edward Lynch

2 years agofrom Port Elizabeth, South Africa

A realistic look at the current plight of The Dispossessed John. Interesting to learn more about Australia.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Good points Deb. This discuses giving the people "squatter's rights" if they move to the remote areas. Then they don't need to tke out loans or pay anything back.

Deb Hirt

2 years agofrom Stillwater, OK

Unwanted land can be hard to tend, but the tough get going when the going gets tough. It is also hard to keep money in one's pocket if you cannot refinance at a lower rate if you don't make enough money. The sad thing about that is, some still pay that higher mortgage rate, and retain less.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Flourish, it is always good to be able to inform and educate.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Flourish, it is always good to be able to inform and educate.

FlourishAnyway

2 years agofrom USA

Your discussion of Australia's population crisis was enlightening, as I had no idea. Immigration issues and resulting disenfranchisement (economic and otherwise) seems to be such a compelling global crisis.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

No you are not Shauna, that is the same way I see things and I am sure there are others as well. How do we make Governments, local authorities and corporations see what is clear to us though? It is a pity your suggestion was shot down. That is the reason many are too scared to speak up.

Shauna L Bowling

2 years agofrom Central Florida

John, I think you have a very doable idea. I agree with you regarding settling and squatter's rights. It would make people and countries proud again and give them something no one can take away.

On a smaller scale, but somewhat along the same lines, a couple of years ago a home builder came into my neighborhood and bought up all the wooded lots that have stood as a haven for wildlife since before my town was founded in 1873. I went to a town meeting and suggested they leave the land as it is and refurbish the broken down, dilapidated homes in the area instead. I don't need to tell you they shot me down. To me, it would have been a win-win for humans and nature. Am I the only one who sees that?

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Hello Shyron, thanks for your great comment and additional verses. I really like them. Well done. Hugs and blessings back.

Shyron E Shenko

2 years agofrom Texas

John, this is really a great hub, I understand all that you say here. Your poem is also great.

~ ~ ~ ~

The promised land is no longer promised

Like it was before

For greed has beat us there

And pad-locked every door

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The desert rats have grabbed the best

With an evil intent

And they would take the last red cent

Even from those that are dispossessed

~~~~~~~~~~

Blessings and Hugs dear friend

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Exactly my point truthfornow, they need to start using these to house people who have nowhere to live...rather than have them sit there decaying. Someone in power needs to do something. It would be a good platform for a presidential candidate to take to the electorate.

truthfornow

2 years agofrom New Orleans, LA

Where I live there are so many abandoned homes that really they could give them away and every one would have a home. Instead, they just sit blighted year after year after year. Eventually, they have to be torn down. The City holds onto them hoping for big bucks that never come. It is such a waste.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Ruby, glad you like that idea I came up with. I am just putting it out there for discussion, but I am not a US citizen or potential voter so I doubt if Mr Trump would take me seriously. It needs someone else to take the idea and present it to him. Would you like to volunteer :)?

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Hi Jennifer, Government would have to offer incentives to move to remote areas and provide survival and life-skill training. However the rebuilding and setting up infrastructure in these areas would provide job opportunities. More resources need to also be put into resurrecting farming and agriculture so farmers aren't forced off their land.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Thanks lollyj, that is the trouble those in powerful positions who have the ability to make change are more concerned with their own well-being and record profits etc than they are with those who really need help. It is so frustrating to be able to see where the problem is and be unable to do anything to change it.

Ruby Jean Richert

2 years agofrom Southern Illinois

John, I think your idea of Trump making housing for the homeless people is a wonderful idea. I wish you would write about it and maybe send him a copy. He's worth so much money.

Jennifer Mugrage

2 years agofrom Columbus, Ohio

This is an interesting idea. I certainly didn't expect a bold proposal in the form of a poem.

Here in the U.S., I know there are some people who would move out to the country if there were incentives ... there are even those who are already doing this voluntarily. But, for most of us, it would be a HUGE learning curve to survive in a remote area. We just don't have the life skills that the pioneers already had back in the 1700s and 1800s.

Meanwhile, in the farming community I come from, many farmers have had to give up farming commercially because various pressures just make it financially unworkable.

Laurel Johnson

2 years agofrom Washington KS

Excellent lens, well written making many valid points. I live in a country where politicians and others in power whine constantly about how much it costs to help the homeless, veterans, children, and senior citizens and yet they always manage to ensure that their own salaries, perks, and benefits continue to rise. I could have a stroke thinking about such things!! Well done.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Jo, I have found myself really inspired to write since the start of this new year. I do see, to be on a roll and hope it continues. So glad you like my idea, and even the idea of making Trump's casinos apartments for the homeless. He is always reminding us how rich he is and that he won't even take a salary if elected president. It would just be a drop in the bucket for him and recycle his abandoned buildings that are just being run down..like the many ghost towns around your country. Glad you liked the Lennon and Vonnegut quotes too, and thank you for being so generous with your praise. Hugs and blessings back.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Ms Dora we always need to keep striving to find better ways to do things and fix what's wrong in the world. Sometimes we need to sit back and look to the past fo the answers and realise that no problem is surmountable.

Jo_Goldsmith11

2 years ago

Hi!

You are such a class act John! I believe you are on a creative roll as of recent. I really enjoy this profound message! And I am just gunho about your idea. Why not put folks in NV or AZ? That would be a perfect way to do so. I read earlier a comment you made about turning Trump's casinos into apartments, and have him pay for it!

You are just awesome! Really! I really enjoyed the Lennon quote and thank you for introducing me to Kurt Vonnegut. His quote was something to really think about! :-)

Enjoy this so much, and it's wonderful forward thinkers like you, is why good things happen. Hugs, shared, +++++ and Blessings always....:-)

Dora Weithers

2 years agofrom The Caribbean

Jodah, you take us back to the real deal. There are many changes causing more and more stress, but that verse from Vonnegut along with the tone of concern in your poem encourage us to live on. Really good work!

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Thank you for the wonderful comment manatita, and for sharing about the selfless act of service by the compere of the Poetry Cafe. I would like to hope that Governments would think like me but I doubt they ever will...anything's possible though I guess.

manatita44

2 years agofrom london

You have some great and noble ideas, Jodah. I would love and hope that Governments think like you. Too many on the poverty line and lots of money and power in the hands of the few. same here.

The Compere at Poetry Cafe arrived late on Saturday. She had started a campaign on Social Media to obtain donations to feed the poor. She was surprised how generous people was. So she spent the whole day with another friend, distributing food to the homeless, in the City above all places.

She was dizzy when she came and I had to recommend that she eat some food. Talk about service and sacrifice!

So many dispossessed, Bro. John Lennon's quote is beautiful, but it does not necessarily commute into people's mind, especially when they are dispossessed. A Great poem. Excellent work!

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Hi Venkat, thanks for the great encouraging comment and for your support of my suggestions. I can just hope that someone from government or with any power to change policies would read it.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Thank you Alicia, I was hoping my ideas wouldn't be seen as too crazy. I appreciate your encouragement.

Venkatachari M

2 years agofrom Hyderabad, India

Great topic chosen by you adoring it with a beautifully rhymed poem. You have made it so simple, so clear and appealing. It makes us get much emotional realising the naked truths of life. Your hints and suggestions are great. If only governments and industrialists listen to it and give some thought. Thanks for raising this issue.

Linda Crampton

2 years agofrom British Columbia, Canada

The topic of this hub is very important. You've shared some good ideas, too. Thanks for writing such an effective poem and hub about the dispossessed.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Thank you Aashi10, I appreciate your generous comment.

Sakshi Dawar

2 years agofrom India , New Delhi

Lovely poetry. Pics are nice too. Great job!

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Thank you Diana. I have been thinking along these lines for awhile and finally got to putting them into some form of written work. It took a bit of additional research but I was pleased with the result.

Diana L Pierce

2 years agofrom Potter County, Pa.

I loved the poem. A great deal of work and thought no doubt went into this hub. Good job.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Thanks for the encouraging comment drbj. I like to think those great men would approve of my thoughts and writings.

drbj and sherry

2 years agofrom south Florida

Your inspiring poetry and well-chosen images send a powerful message, Jodah. Surely Gandhi and Martin Luther King are smiling down at you.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Very good point Dana. A lot of people put blood and sweat into establishing many of these now derelict towns across the country. More should have been done to keep them viable rather than have everyone desert them and move to the big cities. Let's repopulate the land that belongs to all of us.

Dana Tate

2 years agofrom LOS ANGELES

Well said Jodah; I often wonder who decided to tax and sell land that by right belongs to all the creations who were brought into this world.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Thanks Swalia. I think my idea could work well in a place like India providing the Government would commit. Your current Prime Minister seems like a very good and wise man, but it takes more than one man to effect change.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Ruby, you did the right thing giving that man $10. Very few hold up a sign asking for help will buy alcohol with it. Why do people assume they are all doing it tough because of alcohol and are just drunks? It is a stigma that needs to change. I thought Vegas was a perfect example. There is another city built in the middle of the desert, I think in UAE that is one of the most technologically advanced in the world..so it is very possible to rebuild the ghost towns or new cities in the more remote areas. We need to reduce the pressure on the existing cities, especially with continuing growing immigration requirements. I just had another idea. Maybe Donald Trump's derelict casinos in Atlantic City can be turned into housing complexes for the homeless..now that's an idea :)

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Hi Devika, I find poetry a great way to express my ideas and opinions. I just need to get enough people to read them.

Shaloo Walia

2 years agofrom India

A very touching poem! India has almost one- fourth of its population living below the poverty line. There is a stark difference between the rich and the poor. Technological advancement has done nothing to improve the quality of life for the poor.

Ruby Jean Richert

2 years agofrom Southern Illinois

John, using Vegas as an example is a great choice. There was nothing there until they built the casinos. I love your poem and your ideas about helping the poor. As I was leaving Walmart two days ago, a man was standing at the side of the road, he held a sign asking for help. There was something about him that made me sad so I gave him ten dollars. I had two friends visit yesterday and when I told them about him they laughed and said that he probably went straight to the liquor store. So many people think that way. These two friends are good people and I couldn't understand how they had no pity for anyone like that. I'm glad that you do. Thank you..

Devika Primić

2 years agofrom Dubrovnik, Croatia

A wonderful idea for a poem. You have certainly got it out.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

I saw the post on Facebook about attending the wedding Bill. I hope it was enjoyable despite all he dispossessed in that city. I wish someone would actually take some genuine action to fix the problem.

Bill Holland

2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

We spent Saturday at a wedding in another city and I was blown away by the number of homeless and dispossessed in that city. This is a real problem in practically every major city in the world, and writings like this one, if nothing else, help to raise awareness. Well done, John!

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Thanks for reading this Al. It's always good to inform others about Australia. Glad you liked the poem. We don't celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday here, but you have a great holiday.

Word

2 years agofrom Chicago

Great hub here, good to know some details about Australia. I liked the pics as well. The poem was very touching and excellent. Have a wonderful Martin Luther King Birthday holiday and God bless!

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Eric, Dr Martin Luther King Jr..a very worthy recipient of a day of remembrance. Thank you for praying for the dispossessed. We also need to have faith that God will offer up a suitable solution. Maybe he'll give my suggestion the thumbs up :)

Eric Dierker

2 years agofrom Spring Valley, CA. U.S.A.

The sweetness of deep contemplation resulting in a beautiful writing is my favorite. This made me pause for a moment and offer up prayer for those hurting. Now I need to give some action to that thought. We celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today here. A voice for the dispossessed so your poem is quite timely for us. I hope more carry the message and do the right things. Thank you

Ann Carr

2 years agofrom SW England

Yes, all fine thanks John. Might be moving; inspired to go back to countryside surroundings!

Ann

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Ann, thanks for the positive comment. I hate waste and love things to be resurrected or rebuilt..why should old towns be any different. I could never live in the city again. I was surprised to get so much inspiration from these book titles..they just appealed to me and gave me ideas. "Landmarks" sounds like an inspiring read. The New Year is going well so far, hope yours is too.

Ann Carr

2 years agofrom SW England

Great hub and your well-crafted poem hits the nail on the head.

We should all rejuvenate what's been discarded. Why should the towns and cities be the best places? I love the countryside anyway but apart from that, in this age of communications it's no different for industry to be further from towns, though I guess transport could be a problem for some.

I like the idea of using book titles to inspire your writing. The 'Landmarks' I mentioned in your aboriginal piece has inspired me along several tangents.

Hope the new year is turning out to be good for you and yours.

Ann

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Thanks for that comment and confirmation that cities can be established in remote areas Vellur. Much appreciated.

Nithya Venkat

2 years agofrom Dubai

Great poem and hub. It is true that cities can spring out of remote areas if people are willing to settle down there and work towards it. The title is unique and so fitting for the poem and hub.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

You make good points about many homeless and unemployed having mental health issues kalinin. Essential health and mental health services would have to be set up in the rural areas to accommodate them. The more people in an area, generally the more services that are set up there. Thank you for reading and commenting.

Lana Adler

2 years agofrom California

I love how thoughtful you are about this issue, that you are not just condemning society but offering practical solutions. I think your idea of re-habitation of rural areas with homeless people is admirable, although you have to consider that many homeless people have mental health and/or addiction issues. Beautiful poem, too!

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

@Lori, thank you for reading and enjoying this hub.

@Frank, hey buddy. I like it when my writing makes the reader think.

Frank Atanacio

2 years agofrom Shelton

Jodah, love the messages the poetry, the photos... makes you just think....

Lori Colbo

2 years agofrom Pacific Northwest

Excellent poem and I really enjoyed learning more about Austrailia.

Missy Smith

2 years agofrom Florida

Hahaaa...I did catch it fast. I think I must have caught it right as you posted it. I was here surfing a bit and caught it in the feed. How lucky was I? Of course I sprinted to read it! :) I read it fast, I was excited about reading it, so I'm going to read it over again. However, I think I got it all in the first time. I read your commentary and the poem, and the quotes, and listened to the beautiful music. Ursula Le Guin has been a great inspiration to you it seems. That's Awesome! I really need to read some of her stuff.

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Yes Jackie. you have some real concerns. It seems the only way the homeless and destitute get any help is from what their fellow citizens can spare. The Government doesn't really care, and as you say provide more benefits to the immigrants than it's own. When they come to our countries they should not be given a choice where to settle. They should be sent to the rural areas with low habitation and allowed to start a life there. At least they won't be living with the threat of war constantly. Thank you for sharing.

Jackie Lynnley

2 years agofrom The Beautiful South

My blood pressure rises even before I begin on the homeless John! Over 2.5 million small children alone here in the US! Our government knows it yet they only help non-citizens (with our money!) some of whom have blown some of us up! So many citizens I talk to won't even believe we have truly homeless that can't help it. Well it just makes me get so upset and some of us help all we can but then the government want to punish us for that and fine and have fees and I just don't know what is up but I know it is something evil!

Great write always to bring ugly truth to be faced! And some great ideas. Something so does need to be done. There should never be hungry homeless, especially children!

Loved your poem. Sharing!

AUTHOR

John Hansen

2 years agofrom Queensland Australia

Wow Missy, you were quick to read this hub. Thank you for the positive encouragement, and glad to know I am not alone in thinking this idea has some possibility. Cheers for the heads up on the quotes and music too.

Missy Smith

2 years agofrom Florida

This is a really great hub and poem, Jodah! I think you are on to something with re-establishing ghost towns. I love the quotes, especially Lennon's. I love the music you chose. So beautiful with a sadness attached to it. Your poem was the best of all for me as always. It was brilliantly versed and so true. This is another altogether great hub! Bravo! :)

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